Florida overlooked in USA TODAY Sports Network preseason predictions

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USA TODAY Sports' preseason SEC poll predictsFlorida to finish ninth in the conference as Jon Sumrall gets set for his first year in orange and blue.

The Gators did not have a single All-SEC selection, joining Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi State and Vanderbilt as the only programs without a representative. This exclusion gives Sumrall and his staff immediate bulletin-board material as fall camp looms.

Texas was pinned as the SEC title favorite, receiving nine first-place votes and posting five preseason All-SEC selections. Georgia landed second with six first-place votes. Following the Longhorns and Bulldogs came LSU, Ole Miss and Texas A&M, respectively. The only unanimous first-team selections were Texas offensive lineman Trevor Goosby and Auburn linebacker Xavier Atkins.

Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss was named preseason SEC Player of the Year, with Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian voted preseason SEC Coach of the Year. LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt earned preseason SEC Newcomer of the Year to round out the predictions.

After rushing for over 1,000 yards and garnering All-SEC honors in 2025, Doak Walker Award watch list honoree Jadan Baugh was not picked as a preseason All-SEC selection. Vernell Brown III also failed to make the cut even though he became the first player in Florida history to earn freshman All-SEC honors at three different positions. The omission gives Gators like LJ McCray, Myles Graham and Eric Singleton Jr. motivation to prove doubters wrong.

The poll proves voters lack confidence in Sumrall's group; the Gators must deliver results before getting national media buy-in. Massive roster turnover, new systems on both sides of the ball, an unsettled quarterback battle, and new staff mark significant challenges for UF, but an opportunity now presents itself for the unheralded Gators to take advantage of being underestimated.

USA TODAY Sports Network 2026 preseason poll

  1. Texas (9)
  2. Georgia (6)
  3. LSU
  4. Ole Miss
  5. Texas A&M
  6. Oklahoma
  7. Alabama
  8. Tennessee
  9. Florida
  10. Missouri
  11. Auburn
  12. South Carolina
  13. Vanderbilt
  14. Kentucky
  15. Mississippi State
  16. Arkansas

USA TODAY Sports Network preseason All-SEC selections

  • Offense
    • QB: Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss
    • RB (2): Kewan Lacy, Ole Miss; Ahmad Hardy, Missouri
    • WR (2): Cam Coleman, Texas; Mario Craver, Texas A&M
    • TE: Trey'Dez Green, LSU
    • OL (5): Cayden Green, Missouri; Drew Bobo, Georgia; Jordan Seaton, LSU; *Trevor Goosby, Texas; Wendell Moe, Tennessee
  • Defense
    • DL (4): Colin Simmons, Texas; David Stone, Oklahoma; Dylan Stewart, South Carolina; Will Echoles, Ole Miss
    • LB (3): *Xavier Atkins, Auburn; Rasheem Biles, Texas; Whit Weeks, LSU
    • DB (4): Bray Hubbard, Alabama; Ellis Robinson, Georgia; KJ Bolden, Georgia; Zabien Brown, Alabama
  • Special teams
    • K: Tate Sandell, Oklahoma
    • P: Grant Chadwick, LSU
    • All-Purpose: RB/WR Ryan Niblett, Texas

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This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Florida overlooked in USA TODAY Sports Network preseason predictions

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